11-12-2014, 10:03 AM
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#1
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Some kinda newsbreaker!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Learning Phaneufs skating style
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Rafikov looking forward to next year's development camp
http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=738838
Quote:
He's had but a cup of coffee across the Atlantic, but that hasn't impeded Russian defenceman Rushan Rafikov's confidence when skating against North American boys.
Last season, the Calgary Flames prospect appeared in his only stint of North American game experience playing in the 2013 Subway Super Series, where he and the Russian selects took on teams assembled by each of the three CHL member leagues.
He's back for more this week as he found himself back on Canadian soil for the 2014 edition of the series, this time, ready to show the boys of the CHL what a 19-year-old who skates regularly with men in the VHL - Russia's AHL equivalent - can do.
"I'll be beating them at their hockey," Rafikov said with conviction through a translator. "It's going to be an aggressive, physical series and I'm going to skate fast and play the local game."
Rather than enter the CHL's annual Import Draft and go the major-junior route, Rafikov opted to develop in Russia, where he and his agent felt it would be best to honor his contract with the MHL's Yaroslav Lokamotiv.
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so that helps explain why no CHL team took him in the import draft... he decided to stay in Russia
Quote:
When asked where he feels he's at in his development and what the Flames can expect from him at camp, Rafikov responded with further confidence.
"I have reached my peak," he said. "The coaches are happy with my performance. I'll be finishing the season in Russia, getting some training and make it to the next Flames camp and we'll go from there."
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article also says that reason he missed this years camp was because he submitted his paperwork late
Last edited by sureLoss; 11-12-2014 at 10:05 AM.
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11-12-2014, 10:05 AM
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#2
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SW Ontario
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Without knowing the quality of the league he is playing in, those are pretty good stats for a guy playing against adults.
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11-12-2014, 10:06 AM
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#3
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Austria, NOT Australia
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sounds good. Can't wait to see what he can do in NA
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11-12-2014, 10:46 AM
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#4
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Abbotsford, BC
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He submitted his paper work late? D'oh! Bonehead.
I only caught last night's Super Series and I liked how steady he was. He also looked about a head taller than anyone else on his team.
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11-12-2014, 11:17 AM
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#5
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Calgary
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Underlying thread in that story: he seems to be finishing out his deal with the Lokomotiv organization. There's the potential for both him and Ollas Mattsson to be in North America next season.
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11-12-2014, 11:17 AM
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#6
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
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It would be nice to see a Russian prospect work out for us. He seems intent on giving North America a shot. I recall when we drafted him and he seemed surprised to be drafted, but then said he had better start working on his English.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Last edited by FlamesAddiction; 11-12-2014 at 11:19 AM.
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11-12-2014, 11:34 AM
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#7
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Calgary
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if i remember correctly, last year he didn't see much ice time during the super series. this year he is the captain of the team. quite the progression as this is a tournament klimchuk is also playing in.
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11-12-2014, 12:36 PM
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#8
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Calgary
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So potentially add Rafikov and Ollas-Mattson to the AHL squad next year? I am A.O.K with the sounds of that!
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11-12-2014, 12:57 PM
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#9
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Calgary
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Rafikov is playing in the Russian version of the AHL. 12 points in 17 games there is extremely impressive for someone his age.
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11-12-2014, 12:59 PM
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#10
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
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Best player not in the NHL..............
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
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11-12-2014, 01:09 PM
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#11
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Some kinda newsbreaker!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Learning Phaneufs skating style
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I don't think we see Ollas Mattsson in North America next season.
According to eliteprospects he is signed in Sweden until the conclusion of the 2015/2016 season.
To bring him over any earlier than that will cost the Flames an extra $225k in transfer fees.
Also it seems like he is on track to become a full time SHLer next season.
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11-12-2014, 01:59 PM
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#12
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary, AB
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It's probably better for the Flames for Mattsson to stay in Sweden and develop anyway. Leaves a spot in the AHL for someone else.
They probably have the following prospects in the AHL next season: Culkin, Kulak, Ramage, Sieloff, Kanzig, Rafikov
I assume Wotherspoon will have graduated to an NHL spot.
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11-12-2014, 03:07 PM
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#13
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: NYYC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fire
It's probably better for the Flames for Mattsson to stay in Sweden and develop anyway. Leaves a spot in the AHL for someone else.
They probably have the following prospects in the AHL next season: Culkin, Kulak, Ramage, Sieloff, Kanzig, Rafikov
I assume Wotherspoon will have graduated to an NHL spot.
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Considering defense is considered our biggest weakness, that's not terrible. Not sure there's an elite guy amongst them, but maybe that's not as big of an issue with Brodie's emergence.
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11-12-2014, 04:17 PM
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#14
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Singapore
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Quote:
I'll be beating them at their hockey
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This is a quote for the ages!!
__________________
Shot down in Flames!
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11-12-2014, 05:31 PM
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#15
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Austria, NOT Australia
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I thought he was more of a defensive d-man, but he's co-leading the VHL in defenseman scoring. Wow! His numbers are even more impressive if you add the ages of the top ten:
Code:
Name Team GP G A P Age
1. Mikhail Rybalko HK Lipetsk 18 2 10 12 28
2. Rushan Rafikov HK Ryazan 17 0 12 12 19
3. Alexei Lozhkin Neftyanik Almetievsk 18 1 9 10 28
4. Eriks Sevcenko Saryarka Karaganda 11 4 5 9 23
5. Ilya Antonovsky Saryarka Karaganda 15 4 4 8 25
6. Dinar Khamidullin Bars Kazan 17 4 4 8 20
7. Vyacheslav Seluyanov Sputnik Nizhny Tagil 17 3 5 8 27
8. Alexander Ugolnikov Saryarka Karaganda 17 2 6 8 25
9. Alexander Sumin Neftyanik Almetievsk 18 2 6 8 24
10. Alexander Bolshakov Izhstal Izhevsk 17 1 7 8 22
not bad. Not bad at all.
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11-12-2014, 05:48 PM
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#16
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Calgary
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The Russian Factor may have been a blessing instead of a hinderance to the Flames on this one. At worst, he never comes over and will be forgotten as one of 90% of all 7th round picks to never play in the NHL. At best, another top 4 D man.
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11-12-2014, 10:29 PM
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#17
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Scoring Winger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
The Russian Factor may have been a blessing instead of a hinderance to the Flames on this one. At worst, he never comes over and will be forgotten as one of 90% of all 7th round picks to never play in the NHL. At best, another top 4 D man.
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I completely agree. There were only 8 Russians drafted in 2013. If Russians weren't considered such a flight risk, he'd probably be a third or fourth round pick.
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11-13-2014, 01:24 PM
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#18
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Crash and Bang Winger
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He could definitely end up being like smid or better.
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11-13-2014, 02:21 PM
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#19
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by herashak
He could definitely end up being like smid or better.
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I don't think Smid is much of a comparable. Rafikov seems to be a good puck mover - both in skating with the puck, and making a pass. He also seems to have more of an offensive skill-set than Smid. I think he has everything you want in a defensive prospect - skating ability, decent offensively, passing ability, IQ, good physicality and likes to engage, and good speed.
Best way to compare him to someone that is more famous, would be to think of him as Weber-lite. Emphasis on the 'lite' - huge emphasis. He is not going to get anywhere close to Weber in all likelihood, but just in terms of having that very well-rounded package, but at a top 4 ceiling from the little I have read and watched him.
I like Smid, but Smid is more of a Regehr-type where he has great physicality and defensive acumen, but is not very strong at skating out with the puck, passing and creating offence. Rafikov seems to have more breadth of skill.
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11-13-2014, 08:48 PM
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#20
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary, AB
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Is Rafikov still eligible for the World Juniors?
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